Claire Tian

“It’s cool to see concepts like I’ve learned in physics, like pressure and fluids, get materialized into sports. A Formula One car is the opposite of an airplane wing. Instead of generating lift, it has to suction itself down to the racetrack, so they engineer the bottom of the car to have airflow in such a way that it sucks the car to the ground,” Hannah Lin (’26) said.

Ever wanted to dive into the world of Formula One? Wondered what “dirty air” or “chicane” means? Or felt baffled by how the cars don’t fly off the tracks while pushing 200 miles an hour? From motorsports jargon to cutting-edge automotive engineering, Hannah Lin (’26) can tell you all about Formula One.

“What truly is special about motorsport, specifically Formula One, is that you have each team engineer their own parts alongside having the driver,” Hannah said. “It’s not just about the athleticism, it’s also about the team and the construction of the car.”

In sophomore year, Hannah began posting explainer videos and social media guides on motorsports engineering under her channel Motorsport Maven. She plans to grow her work and create a website as the 2026 Formula One season approaches. But the reason for her outreach began with the derision faced by new fans, especially women, in motorsport spaces.

“When I was watching videos about women in motorsports or women talking about motorsports, there’s always people saying, ‘Oh, I’m sure you’re not a real fan,’ or ‘I’m sure you’re just here to impress someone else,’” Hannah said. “To break down that stereotype, I started my own content creation channel. I once had issues like knowing what vocabulary meant and the concepts behind the tech side of motorsports, and so I hope that’s going to be helpful for new fans.”

Whether teaching new fans of motorsports or helping out a friend, Hannah carries her attitude of open-mindedness and support wherever she goes.

“She’s the type of person that would come with me even if she has no idea what the club is about, like when I took her to a Natural Science Club and the F=ma meeting,” close friend Ananya Gurushankar (’26) said. “If I’m scared to do something, she pushes me and will come with me if I don’t want to do it alone.”

As Hannah gained familiarity with motorsports, she also studied physics and connected the two. Inspired by the speed and power of Formula One cars, Hannah decided to aim for a career in mechanical or electrical engineering.

“It’s cool to see concepts like I’ve learned in physics, like pressure and fluids, get materialized into sports,” Hannah said. “A Formula One car is the opposite of an airplane wing. Instead of generating lift, it has to suction itself down to the racetrack, so they engineer the bottom of the car to have airflow in such a way that it sucks the car to the ground.”

Eric Nelson, Hannah’s former Physics and Astronomy teacher, notes her inquisitive nature and remarkable attention to detail. He describes these qualities as essential to Hannah’s thorough exploration of motorsport science.

“One of the first things that got my attention was that she actually found an error in my syllabus that had gone unnoticed for 22 years,” Dr. Nelson said. “She would dive in and go to NASA websites and take detours and just follow her curiosity, even when it’s not required, with attention to detail and high quality of work produced.”

Before her enthusiasm for Formula One races, Hannah first drew from her competitive spirit when she joined the Santa Clara Artistic Swimming Club at age six.

“It’s a balance of artistry and strength,” Hannah said. “I really like how creative it lets me be with water and movement. And I like to see the growth of the routine from like the original concept when it started in October and then what it became in May.”

Santa Clara Artistic Swimming was where she met close friend junior Elaine Xia. Hannah set herself apart from the other swimmers her age when she reached out to Elaine, a year younger, to make her feel at home in the team.

“Hannah is a very open and welcoming person and she was always taking the initiative to talk to the younger people first, which was really helpful for me when I was small,” Elaine said. “Hannah’s willingness to be the first person to reach out to other people makes her very unique.”

Community and collaboration have served as central to Hannah’s endeavors, from highlighting women in motorsports to supporting her teammates in artistic swimming. During her time as an artistic swimmer, Hannah worked with her team to create choreography and bring healthier work-life balance to the club.

“I’ve learned the importance of fostering trust and collaboration,” Hannah said. “Especially in those larger teams to make sure everything works together, you have to trust that all your team members know what they’re doing and that they’ll be where they need to be when they have to be.”